A group of lawyers that proved instrumental in helping credit unions navigate the details of the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Capital Initiative loans has recognized community development credit union leader Clifford Rosenthal for his public service leadership.

The industry debate over the propriety of the public campaigns of small, deeply troubled inner city credit unions to raise capital among other CUs and the citizenry has generated lively and sometimes strident rhetoric.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Capital Initiative drew a charge of political tampering last week from an economist who has often been critical of programs related to the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The White House and Congress are starting to recognize the impact community development financial institutions are having in providing affordable housing expansion, small business support and financial services to urban and rural areas.